The thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, gaming and television having numerous sub-genres. A thriller film usually consists of a battle between the protagonist (the leading character or one of the main characters) and the antagonist (a person who competes/struggles against). The aim of thriller films is to keep the audience alert/awake and on the edge of their seats . The story shows a chain of bad events that keep happening throughout , this builds up tension and suspense for the climax. The aim of the protagonist is to restore justice, while the antagonist seeks to destroy it . There are many different types of thriller films, for example: Action thrillers, horror thrillers, psychological thrillers, crime thrillers, romantic thrillers, supernatural thrillers and more.
Low key lighting is frequently used in thriller films. This is because it produces dark shadows on screen, creating a sinister tone. It also creates a sense of horror and spook for the audience . Low key lighting is created using the key and back lights. When they are used together they create a sharp contrast between light and dark areas on screen. This creates dark shadows which is a common technique used to make thriller films. This is because they create dark tones. The image below taken from a South Korean mystery thriller shows how the dark and light tones contrast from each other creating a mysterious atmosphere.
Top lighting is used to make thriller films seem eerie and spooky. Top lighting is where light is placed above the object of character. This is a useful technique when features of a figures face want to be highlighted so they stand out more to the audience watching . It has been frequently used in horror thrillers in the past to create an eerie and sinister effect on the subject the light has been directed on. The image below shows an example of a top lighting shot that has been taken.
Quick cuts are used all of the time in thriller movies. Quick cuts are used to speed up the pace of the film. Thrillers also often use quick cuts to create tension for the audience. It can be used to convey a lot of information very quickly. In thriller films , quick cuts are used mainly in action sequences. It is the most used convention in thriller and the most effective convention. The fast cuts lead the audience to think that there is some sort of danger, but it doesn't allow them to get the full picture. It creates confusion for the audience and leads to the asking of questions.
Tension music is used in thriller films to bring the audience into the movie, and feel like they are the ones actually experiencing the danger and suspense for themselves. Tension music can also be used in thriller films as a build up to something that might happen or is going to happen. It makes the audience quite confused and ask frequent questions as they don't know if they're expecting something or not.
Diegetic sound of breathing creates an eerie realistic effect for the audience watching. It helps the audience actually feel like they are in the film, experiencing what actually is happening . It creates tension for the viewer and an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Changes in the angles of shots is also frequently used in thriller films. For example, a lot of close up shots and extreme close ups of the protagonist character are filmed. This is to show their emotions, it can also be used to focus on props to aid the narrative. The shots of the antagonistic character will be cut quickly and will aim to hide their identity e.g a shot of the back of them or a silhouette . Reveal shots are often used in thriller films because they build tension using dark, deep sound effects and music making the audience question what is going to happen next .
There are many different types of thriller films. Some genre types of thriller films are written below with a brief description about what they are and what they are usually about :
Action thriller:
These types of thriller movies are jam-packed with action that forces you to the edge of your seat. All thriller movies aim to keep you entertained by having a spectacular storyline and an unusual twist to them. The plots of most action thrillers are the same most of the time. They usually contain one of the following: Terrorists, psychopaths, exploration and crime fighting .
Plots written for thrillers usually include heroes, villains, guns and other weapons. Most action forms contain moderate forms of gore and violence such as fight sequences, wars violence, torture and more. Some examples of Action thrillers that have been made are :
Horror thrillers-
Horror thrillers are probably the most famous type of thriller going out there . This focuses on suspense tension and adrenaline whilst having emphasis of fear. Most of the time horror thrillers contain elements of supernatural genre. Some famous productions of horror thrillers are :
Insidious, The Conjuring, Saw and The Exorcist.
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| Saw |
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| The conjuring |
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| The Exorcist |
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Insidious
Psychological thrillers
Psychological thrillers are thriller stories which emphasize the abnormal psychological states of its characters. Psychological thrillers often incorporate elements of and overlap with mystery, drama, action and horror (particularly psychological horror). They are usually books or films. They are usually suspenseful movies and books emphasizing the psychology of its characters rather than the plot; this sub-genre of thriller movie or book. Some psychological thrillers are listed that you may know/be familiar with:
Black Swan, Seven, Gone Girl. |
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